Thermosiphon heating apparatus.



I. J. ()MALLEY.

THERMOSiPHON HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1910.

1,959,938. Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

I 2 SHEETS-SEEP! 1.

7165 G as I 721/6 7270f" Ufa I. J. OMALLEY.

THERMOSIPHON HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19.1910.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

l-EE M OMALLEY',

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI THEB-MOSIPHON HEATING AIPPARATUS.

Application filed January 19, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I To all whom it may concern .50 arranged and such as fittings,

lie it known tl at l. lli.\ J. O'MALL'EY, a citizen of the l nited Sta es. residing at (hit-ago. in the county et' (t-oh and State of Illinois. have invented certain i and uselul Improvements in 'lhermosiphon lleatingz .-\p1ntratuses.ot' which the tollotving is a specification.

My invention relates generally to heating! systems or to atrvs fsteni of liquid distribution wherein it is desirable to conduct a pin t'ality of streams through a single pipe or. opening. and particularly to the fittings and connections of such systems. and the particular embodiment ."illt'll l have chosen for illu tration shows. my invention as connect in; a gas water-heater to an ordinary kitchen rang boiler,

More spt-eitically. my invention eompri en a tilting of novel construction for connecting a tank or boiler. and heater. and a system of piping in conjunction therewith, which enables the tank and h alter to b assembled in the shop and shipped intact, thereby obviating the necessity of cutting and fitting the connecting pipes at the place where the apparatus is to be set. up. and thus materially reduce the time and cost of installation.

in heating systems of thisrhatact-er as (n'dinarily connected up, the cold water out let pipe is connected from the bottom of the tank to the heater. and as a result the dirt and sediment which collects in the tank, eventually settles into this cold water pipe. and is earriet't by the How into the heater where it is baked ttpon the heating surfaces,

thus decreasing the eltictency oi the heater. Th s: (Jl) ]t tll0lltilllt feature is overcome 111 my invention. by siphoi'iing' the water from the tank, and while the lower end of the siphon may be located sulticiently near thev bottom of the tank to draw practically all of the 'aler therefrom. the sediment which accumulates in the bottom of the tank is left undisturbed and is notdrawn into the heater coils or cmniectiing pipes.

In my construct ion the various parts are united, that considerable in cutting, threading. and and a saving in material unions. and pipes. is accomplished. and furthermore. by proriding a device which can be shippe -ai yembled great economy of time and labor ni' tlie installation of the apparatus isetfected.

It is also one or the aims of my invention saving in labor, fittingof pipes,

preferably provided ture. simple in construction, and easy to install. v

-; \dditional aims. objects, purposes, and t'tdvantar'es or my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art as it becomes better tnulerstood by reference to the followin connection tug description when taken with the utfttml])tlli \!11l illustration of one preferred embodiment thereof. while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment Figure 1 is an elevation showing a portion of the tank and heater as broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a verti al section of the connecting fitting. Fig. is an elevation of the inner ends of the D-shaped tank pipes. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the pipe shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a. view similar to Fig". but showing the various parts in detail. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the support for the upper end of one of the tank pipes, and, Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the modification of the connecting fitting.

Referring toFig. I of the drawings, a tankor storage chamber 9 of any preferred construction and shown as an ordinary kitchen range boiler, is supported upon a suitable base 10, and provided with an in let pipe 11, by which the tank is supplied with cold water, and a drain 12 provided with a spigotli for draining the tank.

A heater H, or any prefer'ed type, but shownas a gas heater, adapted to be supplied with gas from a pipe 15, which gas nupply may be controlled by a cock 16, is

provided with a burner 17', and; a heating coil 18 connected by means of the pipes 19/ and 20,.t0 my improved fitting'fll. The pipe -19 which is adapted to supply the heater with cold water from the tank, is with a drain cook 22,

are the production of an ilo mod is clasped by a clamp 23, which also emuaccs the tank, whereby the heater is par- -ially supported and is rigidly maintained .1.! position.

The fitting 21 through which the water 'culated from the tank to the heater and again into the tank, comprises an annulsr shell 24%, having an inner partition 25, to form a plurality of passages 26 and 27, which are internally threaded. at their outer ends for connection to the pipes 19 and 20, M ect-ively. The inner end of the shell is provided with an annular recess 28 in its walls for the reception of a webbed packing washer 29, which is interposed between the shoulder oi the recess 28 and the inner face out an internally threaded connecting ring 30, provided with an internal shoulder 31. it sleeve is adapted to lit into the shoulder ring 30, and is provided with external shrouds 32% which are adapted to be screwed into an opening tapped. in the side of the tank 9, whereby the fitting is connected. to the tank. an annular shoulder 34: provided ne e end of the sleeve 32, to co operate with a coupling ring 35, which is threaded to be screwed onto the inner end of the casing 2 whereby the sleeve 32, connecting ring 30, washer 29, and casing 24 may be drawn together to provide a water tight coupling.

For the purpose of conducting the water from near the bottom of the tank to the passage E26 and subsequently to the heater 1& l have provided a ill-shaped bent tube 36, provided with a reduced extension or nipple 37 which is adapted to be inserted into the passifge 26 in the casing as shown in Fig. 2. A similar li -shaped tube 38' is adapted to communicate with the passage 2'? and to conduct the heated water which is delivered to the pipe from the heater 1%, into the pas s .157, to a point near the top of the tank,

vmere itis discharged into the tank. The

two til-shaped tubes 36 and 38 are each sem1 circular in crosssection, and when brought together they form a circular divided water conductor similar in cross-section t0 the artitioned casing 24. The tubes are threaded at their outer ends for engagement with the internally threaded ring; 30, so that when the ring is screwed onto the ends of the tubes, when they are in juxtaposition as shown. in 2, they will be maintained in proper relation to communicate with the passages in the casing 2%. In order that the threads on the tim tubes may be brought into proper relation to be engaged by the threads on the ring 30, and to prevent longitudinal displacement of the tubes relatively one to the other, the flat face of one of the tubes, preferably tube 36, is provided with a ll-shaped groove 39 extending transversely thereof and adapted to receive a similarly shaped rib 4L0 projecting out from ose-pee the flat face of the tube 38 as shown Fl Figs. 2 and 3.

Since the tank, heater, and connections are designed to be assembled before shipment to the place where they are to be installed, it is desirable to provide a support or retaining means for the upper end of the tube 38, which reaches nearly to the top of the tank, and because of its length is very liable to become broken oil it the structure should be subjected to rough usage in shipment. In order to sustain the upper end of this tube in the desired position, I have provided the ordinary spud 41 into which the outlet pipe 42 is customarily threaded with a downwardly extending supporting member l3, which fits loosely over the tube 38 and is threaded at its upper end to be screwed into the lower side of the spud 41, as shown in Fig. 7. This supporting member is preterably cut away at one side 4:3 in order that the water which is discharged from the tube 38, may flow into the tank 9, and also that the water from the tank 9 may be admitted into the outlet pipe 42. The sup port -13 at the end of the pipe 38 is designed to maintain the end of the tube in proper position without in any way interfering with the How of water from the tube or to the outlet pipe.

In assembling my construction, the tubes 36 and 38 are first inserted into the opening in the sideof the tank and the'cnds are then brought into the proper longitudinal relation so that the rib will be in engagement with the groove 39 with the ends ofthe tubes projecting out through the side opening in the tank. lhe sleeve 32 carrying the couplingring 35 is now slipped over the ends of the tubes and screwed into position in the tank side, the tubes meanwhile bein main tained in proper position by a suite le tool which can be inserted into the ends of the tubes and which will grip or tightl clasp the t-ubesso that they can be held. The ring 30 is next screwed upon the ends of the tubes, thus preventing them from being withdrawn from the sleeve 82. The washer 29 which may be of soft metal, leather, or any other suitable packing material, is placed upon the projecting end or nipple 37 of the tube 36. The lower passage way 26 of the casing 24 is next sli ped over the nipple 37, thus bringing the to cs 36 and 38 into registration and communication with the passage ways 26 and 27, respectively. By screwing up the coupling nut. 35 so that the casing 24 will be drawn tightly against the ends of the tubes 36 and 38 with the Washer 29 tightly clasped therebetween, a Watertight fitting is secured, which has a plurality of passages communicating with the interior or the tank, and each entirely independent y from the other. By slipping the supporting member 43 down overthe tube 88 and screwing the spud -l-1 into position at. the top of the tank. the upper end of the tube is se curely held in proper position. The heater H. is next connected to the fitting by means of the pipe 1.9 provided with the lock-nut l5), and the pipe it), the strength and rigidity of the *onnection between the tank and heater being further increased by slipping the band or collar 223 over the tank 9 and screwing up the bolts 23, so that the pipe 19 and the tank are both tightly clamped by the band. The heating apparatus assembled as described, with the tank and heate all connected together, may now be shipped to the place where itis to be installed, and it is only necessary for the workmen to place the tank in proper position, connecting the inlet pipe 11 and the outlet pipe 42 thereto, and connecting the gas inlet pipe 15 t0 the heater 14, and the installation is complete, without the usual liss of time, labor, and material, resulting from the cutting; and fitting of pipes and connecting up of the heater and tank.

As is well known, kitchen range boilers of this kind are ordinarily connected to a heating coil either in the tire box of the kitchen vrange or in the house heatin furnace, and

in such cases the cold water connection from the tank to the heating coil is usually taken off from the bottom of the tank. and the hot ater pipe from the coil usually discharges into the tank at or near its top. When thus connected, the sediment which settles to the bottom of the tank will be drawn into the coil, thereby greatly impairing its etliciency. It is sometimesdesirable to connect an ordinary furnace coil to a heating system embodying my invention, so that the water in the tank will be heated by the coil when the furnace is running, and the gas heater may be employed when the furnace not in it.-e. in connecting up such a system the cock 22 (l ir'. 1), may be repla ed by a pipe leading to the furnace coil through which cold water will be supplied from the tank to the coil. The return hot water pipe will be connected in any suitable manner to the passageway in the fittin; which cou'iniunicates with the hot water discharge tube 38.

In Fig. 8 .l have. disclosed a modification of the fitting" above described which is particularly adapted for use in connecting up a system as above outlined. in this modification the casing: 2% is provided with a partition similar to that: in the. casing 24, and which divides the easing into the passage ways 26 and 27. The passage way 26 is internally,threaded at it tor the reception of the pipe -14- which extends downwardly therefrom and adapted connection at its lower end to the pipe 19,t shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with an in egral collar l9 internally threaded to be screwed to the reduced lower end of the shellll5. The upper end of this shell is adapted to'be slid into the lower end of the enlarged passage way 27,. and a water tight fitting is produced between this shcll and the casing Q-l. by' a packing ring "to which is held in place between the lower end of the casing 14; and a coupling ring lt'iadapted to be threaded thereon. it will be evident. from this construction that. the shell 45 is capable of angular adjustment to bring" the opening" 50 into any desired position, thus permitting the heater l-l which is connected to the shell -l5 by the pipe 20. to be swung" and positioned at any angle relative to the tank 9.

It is well known that in heating systems of this type as ordinarily connected up, there is a considerable loss of heat known as chimney loss." which occurs in the following: manner: The cold water connection to the h ater. as commonly connected up, is attached to the bottom of the tank and the hot water pipe on the heater is connected to the side or top of the tank. During the normal operation of the apparatus the cold water settles in the tank into the cold water pipe leading to the heater, and as the water in the heater becomes heated, it rises and is discharged into the top of the tank, while the cold water in tllQ CODlHCllUIl to the heater, rises into the heating coil and becomes heated. and eventually is discharged as hot water back into the tank. When the heater turned off and the tank and coils are full of heated water, the heating coil becomes a heat radiator. and the water therein becoming cool, settles back intothe tank and establishes a reverse circt'datioii. It will be evident that in my constructioi'i, such a reverse circulation is impossible, since the cold water connection from the tank to the heater is in the form of a siphon, and it' the wat'erin the heated coil should be cooled below the teiiiperaturt'i of the water in the passage way- 27 and tube 38, it would settle only to the bottom of the heater itself, and would not work back into the tank. The objectionable feature of chimney losses in constructions of this character is thus entirely obviated.

lVhile I have shown and described the embodiments of my invention, which appear at this time to be preferable constructions, nevertheless it;- will be understood that varions-changes in the structure and minor iiie-' caanical details of my invention ii'iay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims, or without sacrificing any of the material advantages thereoi.

hat I claim is:

1. The combination of pliirality of. passages extending therethrough,v a plurality of tubes communicating with the passages in said fitting, one of a fitting having a the tuhes having; a hippie fitting in one of the passages and means 50;: connecting the preventing rehit tubes to said fitting,

The combination of a fitting having a plurality of passages extending there through, a phiiaiity oi. tithes conn'nunicot in; with said passages, a telescopic hippie connection between one of the tubes and one of the passages and separate means for holding the ttlbtii in position.

3. The eon'ihiimtion of a fitting provided with :1 phimiity of passag a plurality of pipes Connected with Stiiti fitting and communicating with said passage 11 phuiiiit of titli-fzl0tl i tithes positioned with their tint faces together with the tubes in uliqement with said. uissages, one tubes having a. nipple fitting in one of the pos- Fizigeshnd means for connecting said iubes to said. fitting.

4. in 1 ie ice of the ehzirruirtei' ieseriheii, the eomhiniithm of a tittiiiig divided by a partition into :i phn'niity of PJISSRQGQ'S pluwiiity of i'Ii 'JCS :ithipteri to communicate with said paws-Litre, and having p sions for ive ioiigitui ii. displaceconnecting them of the tubes, innit means i aid tubes to said it iiig with each who in :iiinenieiit with itea respective passage 5. In (itf'i so of the ch: new deseriherh the ooii'ihiinition t1 fitti q h'wing a pm"- I, ti'tiiou extendiiig iongitiidinziiiv thereof, o1- viding it into a plurality of pai'ai'iei p2.- siiges. t1 phmiiity of int n M tubes tltittpil'ti to eoiiimuniozite Haiti passages, and means for a i. i-nhos to the 6. in :i devic: the imnihinzitioi mm. with 1'2 at one end 12H p21 ittiJCS (ii. and unit snow in stilt r ionglitiidimi woven tiveiy one to thriioi preventing tho who who?) moi mo" t: 11' scene ii g said tube Anti ii'iiilg ib eiiitl to pio vide 2L phu'zii oi continuum and li'lti'P- pendent passa es th: 1 9mm. tithes amt fitting.

'5. in a tiei'iee the combination of centrality disposed part i of passages, 11 fiat 111pple extending into one on: n .iages in the fitting, a second flat -fuoxi tnoe disposed in aiinoin i-nt. with the other pasnge in said fitting; interengziging means ioctited on the tint faces of said tubes to prevent longitudi- J i L :1 m into a phii'zii'ity ior rigidty securing said. together.

01% 1e character described, of fitting: divideci longi- {)it'ljftliiif.

wing with a pas sage of the nip; \vhei'ehy to provide :1 pini'ziiity of continuous; and indopendent p213 sages through said hitting and tubes.

9. In a devise the chm-inter described, the combination of two 'thihieeeii tubes, sleeve surrounding said tubes; and interim- -i,, means between ing ion "tusiinni tiveiy to the other.

10. A iiei'ieo oi" the eiizmietei" (iG""'iiQ(i inchiti'ing" a tittin having: :1 Mortality of passages :i pit oi tnhee registered with the i'espe- 4 it sieeve embracing and en t the tubers and oonstitnting a1 'eoimevtioh tor engagement with it pipe or tank, and :1 iitoupiing associated with the fitting and siee've to hohi together the tubes and the tit-Y Ci siihstnniziliy as ,euszi out of one tube ireiri- :iovie "PiQi' described I i... dint.

constituting new v-n'lh :1 pipe or (unit. 511.11% a con, i i H hi), the titting; :inzi with i h-ziht together :1 ch: 1 described waited, fitting tubes for prevenh i piumiity I of passages by n 

